The police watchdog for England and Wales has said it is launching the largest-ever inquiry into police actions following the publication last month of a damning report into the response to and aftermath of the Hillsborough disaster.

96 Liverpool fans lost their lives in the Hillsborough disaster (Picture: Getty)

As the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) launched its investigation, the director of public prosecutions Keir Starmer confirmed criminal charges against individuals or groups were being considered.

In September the Hillsborough Independent Panel – which reviewed previously classified documents relating to the deaths of 96 Liverpool Football Club fans in the tragedy – claimed to have uncovered a police cover-up to shift blame on to those who died.

The panel said it found 164 police statements were altered, 116 of them to remove or change negative comments about the policing of the FA Cup semi-final at Sheffield Wednesday’s stadium between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest on April 15, 1989 and the ensuing disaster.

Deputy chair of the IPCC, Deborah Glass, said ‘without a shadow of a doubt’ the watchdog’s inquiry would be the biggest investigation of its kind in the UK.

‘I think I can confidently say this will be the largest independent inquiry that has been launched into the actions of the police in the United Kingdom,’ she said.

On potential criminal charges that could be brought, she continued: ‘The potential criminal and misconduct offences disclosed by the panel’s report fall into two broad categories.

‘They are the allegations that go to the heart of what happened at Hillsborough in April 1989 and individuals and institutions may be culpable for the deaths, and there are allegations about what happened after the disaster, that evidence was fabricated and misinformation was spread in an attempt to shift blame.’

The actions of South Yorkshire police, the force that dealt with the tragedy, and West Midlands police, which investigated how the disaster was handled, are likely to be scrutinised.

A large number of current and former officers will also come under investigation, including Sir Norman Bettison, the former chief inspector in South Yorkshire and the current chief constable of West Yorkshire police, who has been referred to the IPCC over allegations he provided misleading information over the disaster.

It emerged today Sir Norman, who has said he will retire next spring, is also under investigation for allegedly attempting to influence the decision-making process that led to the same referral.

96 people died in what is Britain’s worst-ever sporting disaster (Picture: PA)

A spokesman for the force said: ‘Sir Norman Bettison has consistently made the point since September 15, three days after the report was published, that these were matters that needed to be investigated formally and fairly by the IPCC. At the time, he immediately welcomed the police authority’s decision to refer this matter.

‘He is on record as saying he is keen to co-operate with the IPCC inquiry, but now that has been launched, he has nothing further to add.’

Margaret Aspinall, the chairwoman of the Hillsborough Families Support Group, whose 18-year-old son James died in the tragedy, commented: ‘I can only repeat again what we said four weeks ago, the truth is out there. I think the time is now for accountability.’

‘We will follow the progress of this investigation and remain resolute in our support of the families and survivors as they continue with their battle to bring those responsible for the tragedy to justice,’ he said.